Fellow people,
I HAVE SURVIVED what was possibly the craziest week of my existence! ok...ok...maybe not my existence... but definitely the month... I would describe this week as an inverted wave in terms of hecticness. Monday was CAH-RAZY. I went in early (i'm supposed to have half day off on mondays) at around 10 and worked as well as had a meeting all the way up until 6:00 when Josiah and I tramped into the neighborhood to pick up some kids who wouldn't come otherwise. I met some of THEE most awesome kids. Nygeria (Ny-Ny is the nickname) was the sweetest child I've ever met, so cute, lovable, and she held my heart in her hands. lol. Jalen (Jay-len) who has been an incredible hand-full in youth group, came to VBS and behaved like a little adult....which completely floored me. lol. He answered questions, stayed quiet, and looked out for the other kids. I actually really liked the kid by the end of the week...when I asked him why he doesn't behave this way at group, he smiled this goofy smile and walked away. hahahhhaha. oh dear. There was also, Eternity, D'ajah (dee-ah-sha), and Shayla who were all girls and all completely wonderful. It turns out that we had around 61 kids come over the whole week, and they were a pretty good group.
Tuesday- Thursday were pretty slow daytimes for me. I had to re-write some stuff for the skits (meaning I had to write a character out of the story we were telling cause the actor had to go to a wedding..lol....) and I did Devos and tried my best to take it easy...but by Wednesday night Josiah said to me, "I better not see you here until at least 1:00pm tomorrow." I laughed. and he said, "Seriously." So I didn't go in Thurs. until 12:30pm....I'm a rebel. lol. It was GREAT fun.
Friday was crazy. We had food Distribution in the morning at which one lady standing in line almost fainted. Her name was Nadine, and it turns out she hadn't eaten yet that day and needed water. I laughed to myself, cause she reminded me of myself a few years back even though she is at least 3 times my age. I got her water, Aleve for the head ache, and she refused food so I let her son deal with that. It was crazy talking to her....she clearly loved both of her children but she had cut ties with her daughter because she was in an abusive relationship that has physically deformed her and gotten her four kids placed in Children and Youth. Overall, the stories of the people in this town, NEVER cease to amaze me.
Friday night was the Sleepover with Kim, myself, and 5 hyperactive 3rd-5th graders. Oh my golly goodness...lemme break it down for you...
6:30-8:30- VBS
8:30-9:00 I had to walk the kids home. Josiah wasn't there and Kevin was MIA so I had to walk them home on my own. It pumped my adrenaline a little bit, but I survived. The kids were sad to see me go, and I was sad to see them go. I'm going to miss them.
9:00-11:00 Jen = alone with the hyper active kids. LOL. Kim has some stuff she needed to do, so I was left to entertain them on my own. Katie brushed my hair, while Eliana told me stories about her nephews, Giovanni and Devin played on DSes, and Sierra was doing gymnastics in front of me complaining about one of the boys at her VBS table. They also played four square. 2 hours of that. I was pooped.
11:00-12:00 Kim came back and we blew up air matresses...rather IIIIII blew up air mattresses while Kim entertained the kids for a spell. We got all set up for bed and popped in a movie. Veggie Tales!!! Sadly...it was only a half hour.
12:00- 2:00am Finding Nemo played while the kids ran around the fellowship hall, Kim and Katie made Deviled Eggs, Sierra and I actually watched the movie.
2:00am - 4:00am We watched the WaterHorse. *sigh* FINALLY the kids fell asleep, so I did as well...probably around 3 or so.
5:00am - I wake up to Kim snoring and our airmatress deflating.
5:00-6:00am I walk around the fellowship hall, go to the bathroom, grab my pillow and blanket and go sleep in the kitchen to escape the snoring. WAke up in the kitchen and go back to the now completely deflated airmatress.
6:00am, Kim goes down to the classroom and pulls up two tiny couches that roll out into beds of a sort....i curl up on one of those and was OUT.
9:00am... The kids awake.
9:30am everyone's up and about...talking and playing. We put in the Waterhorse again so they could see the parts they missed for sleep.
9:30-11:45 watched movie, ate breakfast, played games.
11:45-12:45 we cleaned up, packed up, and got ready for the pool party.
1:00- 5:00pm POOL PARTY.
5:00-7:00 Kim and I cleaned up the fellowship hall and did other such things.
7:30 = HOME. and also - EXHAUSTED.
So THAT was my Friday into Saturday. So when I say, I Survived..... literally....I survived. lol. When I got home Saturday evening, I had a beautifully decorated package from my boyfriend who had sent me a CD with a couple songs he'd written for me, a DVD with good wishes from a lot of my friends back home that made me laugh and cry...it was great, and two little boxes I wasn't to open until Sunday morning. Perfect ending to an exhausting day.
Sunday was nice...had to get up super early. But I got to open my boxes!! Inside the boxes was a little ceramic baseball glove that reads "You're my best catch!" and inside the other was a beautiful little necklace of a dancing person. The note that came with it read "Dance like no one is watching." I absolutely loved it, and have decided to wear it everyday til I get home. lol. Matt and I have been together for 10 months now!!! Crazy huh? I love that man.
So looking forward into the next two weeks I see a lot of busy-ness. I'm basically rolling right from VBS into all my other regular activities. I have to move houses this weekend, so I'm not sure I'll get a chance to Blog this weekend, but I'll do my best to get at least one or two more out before I get home. Mostly in reflection of the summer and what's coming next, and what I've learned. Believe me, I've been keeping a list.
Until then my dear friends and family, I am off! I have to go to a ribbon cutting ceremony of sorts in a few mintues. I hope you are having a beautiful day, and I'll see you all very soon.
Love,
~ME
